Broxburn Athletic vs Preston Athletic

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Friendly – Broxburn Athletic v Preston Athletic – 19/01/2022

Broxburn welcomed high flying Preston Athletic from the First Division Conference B for a friendly to the Albyn on a bitterly cold evening.

The Brox started on the front foot and in the 2nd minute Trialist No 6 getting off a shot which hit Binnie deflecting to the right and well defended by Prior for the visitors.

Preston’s first effort at goal came 2 minutes later Forsyth taking a free kick from 35 yards out but blazing the ball well over the bar.

Both sides were both trying to get the ball down and play which was making for an entertaining encounter.

In 8 minutes two of the Broxburn trialists nos. 10 & 7 combined well with a cross from the right being blocked for a corner. The ball was half cleared from the corner and played back into Wright who was measuring up his shot when Prior intercepted and forced the ball out for another corner. The visitors cleared their lines effectively from Beesley’s corner.

In 13 minutes Forsyth crossed from the left finding Preston’s Trialist No.9 who headed the ball into the net but from an offside position.

Binnie was having a good tussle with Preston centre half Prior who made a timely challenge to prevent the home forward creating a shooting chance.

Beesley was having an influential game in midfield for the Brox and he played a great through ball to Trialist No 10 but he was well tackled by Forsyth to prevent the Broxburn player getting in on goal.

In 18 minutes the best chance of the game fell to the home side Beesley once again pulling the strings sending Trialist 7 in on keeper Pennycuick who did well to hold up his progress, the ball broke to Binnie who fired wide.

Another good build up from Broxburn with Trialist 10 and Newall combining with the latters cutback finding Barker who shot wide.

In 21 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty when Wright was adjudged to have brought down Jack. HAMILTON confidently dispatched the spot kick into the home net to give Preston the lead.

Newall was fouled 25 yards from goal on the right, Beesley took the kick but no one in red could get a touch although there were shouts for a handball as the Preston defence cleared.

The visitors were stringing some nice passes together one of which gave Austin a chance to cross which he duly did striking the ball well forcing Donoghue into a save.

Jack and Trialist No 9 for Preston played a neat 1-2 which Nimmo did well to break up for the Brox. The visitors continued to weave neat passing patterns McNeill and Hamilton combining to set up Young who shot wide of goal.

In 36 minutes Newall was once again prominent down the right of the Broxburn attack cutting the ball back from the bye line but Archibald defended well for a corner. In the following minute another Newall cut back found Binnie whose shot was blocked for a corner.

In 40 minutes Broxburn carved out another chance great play between Trialist 10 and Beesley saw the latter play in Binnie on the right but Pennycuick did well to block Binnie’s well struck shot for a corner which was not capitalised on. 

Half Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 -1 Preston Athletic

Broxburn made a number of changes at half time, Hamilton, Donaldson, Murray, Tait & Greenhill replacing Donoghue, Trialist 3, Nimmo, Trialist 6, & Beesley.

Tait who had had a good game in Saturday’s win against Camelon, was once again lively leaving visiting defenders in his wake before being brought down it appeared but the referee wasn’t impressed and no penalty resulted.

In 51 minutes Tait was tormenting the visitors defence getting in another cross which no one in red could apply a touch to, Newall played the ball back in finding Binnie who was just off target with his effort.

The Brox continued to probe down the right Newall again finding Binnie who tried to lay the ball off to Tait but the visitors defence prevented the ball reaching its target.

In 54 minutes, Tait again made a great run down the left but again couldn’t find a red shirt , Newall dug out a cross from the right which Binnie won but couldn’t get his header on target.

Preston were shouting for a penalty in 59 minutes when Hamilton was shouldered off the ball in the box but the referee waved play on. The visitors then made 3 changes Malloy, Stokes and Grotlin on for Jack, Trialist 9 and Hamilton.

Nicol then came on for Trialist 7 for Broxburn. Archibald and Somers came on for Preston.

The substitutions proved profitable for the visitors in 69 minutes Somers corner found the head of STOKES whose flick found the top corner of the Broxburn net.

In 80 minutes a foul by Greenhill on Malloy 25 yards out let Archibald take a free kick which deflected off the home wall just eluding breaking to Malloy.

The visitors should have increased their advantage in the closing stages spurning great chances when well placed.

Full Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 -2 Preston Athletic

Broxburn Athletic: Donoghue, Newall, Trialist 3, Nimmo, Wright, Trialist 6, Trialist 7, Barker, Beesley, Trialist 10, Binnie

Subs: Hamilton; Nicol, Tait, Donaldson, Greenhill, Murray, Townsley

Preston Athletic: Pennycuick; Austin, Forsyth, O’Connor, Prior, Young, Jack, McNeill, Trialist 9 , Archibald, Hamilton

Subs: Newman; Archibald, Somers, Malloy, Stokes, Grotlin

 GES